DNP reflection
Student includes a 500-word reflection on the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree using at least 5 evidenced-based articles found through an academic library search that are no older than 5 years; AND Student will analyze and evaluate:
(1) the history and purpose of the DNP,
(2) the current state of the DNP,
(3) the future state of the DNP;
(4) how DNP-prepared APNs will assist with transformative healthcare and help solve complex health problems
(5) the advantages of having the DNP; AND
Student will reflect on why the DNP degree would be appropriate for future career plans. Doctor of Nurse Practice Reflection Paper Sample
Doctor of Nurse Practice Reflection Paper
(1) The history and purpose of the DNP
The DNP is a nursing model of education designed as a terminal degree to prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical practice within the profession. The standardized DNP model was formally introduced in 2004 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in response to nursing leadership trends in health care. It replaced the master’s degree as preparation for advanced practice nurses. Prior to the DNP model, there were many PhD in nursing programs that focused on generating and advancing nursing research. Some of the doctorate programs appeared as early as 1979 to include nursing doctorate (ND), doctor of science in nursing (DSN), and doctor of nursing science (DNSc, DNS). The problem was that these models were not standardized as they had been proposed by several professional organizations that did not have a unifying voice. In this respect, the purpose of DNP presented by AACN is to present a unified, standard nursing education model for terminal degree that prepared nurses for the higher level of clinical practice within the profession (Armstrong & Sables-Baus, 2019).
(2) The current state of the DNP
The DNP is perceived as the minimum level of preparation for advanced nursing practice. This marked a move from master’s degree to the doctorate level degree. Currently, there are 357 DNP programs being offered across the USA to include all states and regions. An additional 106 new DNP programs are at different stages of planning to include 46 post-master’s programs and 60 post-baccalaureate programs (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2020).
(3) The future state of the DNP
The continued rapid growth of DNP shows that there is growing consensus that it is the most beneficial, consistent model to use for a nursing doctorate degree. It addresses the need for expert clinicians and clinical teachers that is not adequately met by other graduate nursing education models. In essence, the DNP is a standardized model (accepted by educational institutions and professional organizations) that prepares graduate nurses for future health care needs. It is clear that the relevance of DNP model continues to be affirmed even as it becomes the standard model for preparing advanced practice nurses (Armstrong & Sables-Baus, 2019). Doctor of Nurse Practice Reflection Paper Sample
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(4) How DNP-prepared APNs will assist with transformative healthcare and help solve complex health problems
DNP prepared APNs assist with transformative health care and help to solve complex health problems. A critical component of the DNP model is practice immersion in which learners spend at least 1,000 hours of clinical practice experience before obtaining the DNP degree. The clinical experience must be meaningful and congruent with the APN role. With the extensive clinical experience, APN are able to take on system-level change projects that create organizational change in their practice areas. In addition, the DNP model integrates collaborative practice immersion into the curriculum thus building the leadership skills of graduates. This equips APNs with the skills and competence to take a leadership role in identifying and solving problems in nursing practice. Besides that, the DNP model strengthens the bonds between community, practice and academic, thus allowing APNs to create meaningful, structured collaborations with community partners to ensure sustainable, transformative health care changes (Hooshmand et al., 2019).
(5) the advantages of having the DNP; AND Student will reflect on why the DNP degree would be appropriate for future career plans.
Having a DNP offers two significant benefits. Firstly, it increases career opportunities and expands earning potential. A DNP graduate is able to take on executive-level leadership roles in scientific inquiry and practice. In addition, the individual is able to understand the different facets of nursing practice concerned with mobilizing interdisciplinary teams, initiating efforts to address clinical issues and identifying emerging trends. With these competencies, a DNP is able to take on the heightened nursing leadership responsibilities (DeNisco, 2020). Secondly, it ensures that nurses are at par with other health professionals. It is a terminal degree that provides nurses with the educational credentials comparable to experts in other professions. This allows APN to effectively lead and contribution in multidisciplinary teams (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019).
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2020, October). DNP Fact Sheet. https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet
Armstrong, G., & Sables-Baus, S. (Eds.) (2019). Leadership and Systems Improvement for the DNP. Springer Publishing Company.
DeNisco, S. M. (2020). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Hooshmand, M., Foronda, C., Snowden, K., de Tantillo, L., & Williams, J. R. (2019). Transforming Health Care Through Meaningful Doctor of Nursing Practice Community Partnerships. Nurse Educator, 44(3), 132–136. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000577
Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (Eds.) (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials: A New Model for Advanced Practice Nursing (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. Doctor of Nurse Practice Reflection Paper Sample